CWD News

In the CWD weekly staff meetings, we’ve been working through all the details of our upcoming Virtual Friends for Life Orlando 2020 conference.  We’re excited for what’s coming, but of course there are moments when we stop and think about what we’re not able to do this year.  COVID-19 has reshaped so much of how we, as a world, are able to connect right now, but we’re still a community.  We’re still a CWD family.  And today, Laura Billetdeaux has penned a letter to our community, sharing her thoughts. I miss you. In a normal year, two weeks before a […]

While our team recovers from the fun and excitement of our first Virtual Friends for Life Orlando (VFFLO) event, held online last week, we took some time to reflect on what just happened, and why it matters.  CWD President, Jeff Hitchcock, and VP of Education and Programming, Laura Billetdeaux, shared some of their initial thoughts. Laura said, “In the week or so prior to VOFFL, I could barely keep up with the number of people registering. I started to get nervous, wondering if the ‘warmth’ of FFL would – could – be felt by thousands of people when conveyed in […]

Looking to participate in a clinical trial to help move the needle on diabetes research in 2020?  Here are some trials that are currently looking for participants, or will be in the very near future: Closed Loop From Onset in Type 1 Diabetes (CLOuD) – The purpose of the study is to use a novel treatment approach, the artificial pancreas, after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) to improve glucose control with the anticipated improvements of residual C-peptide secretion. DiabetesSisters, along with the ADA and the ASCES, have requested additional information about Fasting in Diabetes Management to further a previous […]

The diabetes team at Abbott has issued a press release today, stating that their FreeStyle Libre 2 iCGM has been cleared in the US for adults and children with diabetes, achieving what they are highlighting as the highest levels of accuracy and performance standards. “We’re thrilled to bring our next generation technology on our world-leading sensing platform to both children and adults with diabetes in the U.S.,” said Jared Watkin, senior vice president, Diabetes Care, Abbott in today’s release. “With unsurpassed 14-day accuracy and enhanced features including optional alarms at a fraction of the cost of other CGMs, Abbott’s FreeStyle […]

As a person living with type 1 diabetes, have you ever thought about what would happen to you if you are stopped by police, detained, or arrested? If your child has T1D, do you feel that he or she is prepared for this encounter? While a surprise interaction with a law enforcement officer may never occur, it is essential to be prepared and know your rights. You must assume that the officer stopping you has never heard of type 1 diabetes and has no idea what you need to keep your blood glucose within range. Join Cynthia M. Deitle, JD, […]

Happy Monday!  Do you have plans tonight at 8 pm eastern?  Join the MoFFL’s (Moms of Friends for Life) for a Virtual Happy Hour! We will be meeting via Zoom on Monday, June 8 at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT. The theme for this week is “Wear your FFL gear.” You’ll need to register in advance for this meeting:  Here’s the link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  We’re excited to see you tonight!!

Amplifying stories from people with diabetes is part of our mission, and we’re working to increase visibility for all people with diabetes. Watch Cherise Shockley, founder of #dsma, @WOCdiabetes, and diaTribe Community Manager, engage with CWD board member Kerri Sparling for a discussion about the diabetes online community, inclusion, and strategies for sharing more stories.   This video was originally broadcasted live via webinar on May 3, 2020 at 3 pm ET.  For more resources from our Screenside Chat with CWD featuring Cherise Shockley, you can find those on our recap page.

Moms can calculate a carb count from 50 feet away, pull glucose tabs and juice boxes of out thin air when needed, and keep both kids with and without diabetes afloat with what looks like ease … but we know that parents do best when they’re bolstered by their peers.  And here at CWD, we’re big supporters of the moms and dads of kids with diabetes. A few weeks ago, two moms from our Friends for Life family came up with the idea to host a Moms of Friends for Lifers virtual meeting, and almost 40 moms joined that first […]

We’re now several months into this COVID-19 experience, and people have had varying responses, experiences, fears, and triumphs.  Managing diabetes can be a challenge on the average day, and adding concerns about a global pandemic can send things into a tailspin. But take heart – there are thousands of families affected by diabetes who are making diabetes work within this new normal. You are not alone. To prove it, we want to hear your stories of managing diabetes during a pandemic.  Are you consulting with your doctors through telemedicine?  Have you found a low treatment that you like to keep […]

With COVID-19 changing the way we connect and learn from our community, there are a number of virtual events taking place in the coming days.  Here’s a snapshot of some events that may be of interest, including some from our own CWD team: The Month of May: Spread Out the 5k! Children with Diabetes is hosting Spread Out the 5K during the month of May, a virtual 5K (registration is FREE – sign up below!) to keep our community safe and active, while also providing a way for us to stay engaged virtually with one another. This effort is part of #GivingTuesdayNow, a […]